Egypt's Ministry of Planning co-hosted Wednesday two high-level events at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) on the occasion of the launch of the Sevilla Platform of Action (SPA) with Spain's government and the UNDP. The platform brings together more than 130 initiatives designed to deliver on the bold commitments set out in the FFD4 outcome document. According to the UN, SPA represents an opportunity to restore trust in multilateralism and deliver tangible financing as part of FFD4. It aims to reshape global approaches to development and climate finance by strengthening country ownership of national financing strategies and aligning investment flows with local priorities. "Egypt is proud to lead on integrated financing and country platforms that drive our national priorities." Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat in her keynote remarks. "Through our Integrated National Financing Strategy and the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy platform (NWFE Programme), we are mobilising finance for development, focusing on economic growth, quality jobs, and more private sector engagement." Egypt is positioning itself as a regional leader in integrated financing, drawing on its experience with national platforms and climate-focused investment frameworks, the ministry of planning said in a statement. According to a ministry statement, Minister Al-Mashat added that global economy is undergoing historic shifts that demand renewed multilateral cooperation. Narrowing fiscal space, mounting debt burdens, and climate threats are straining the development trajectories of many countries, the minister noted, saying the launch of SAP comes at a critical time to refocus efforts and reform the global financial system. The platform encourages governments to adopt integrated national financing frameworks and offers a global guide to align donor funding with country-led development plans. It is seen as a response to concerns that many developing economies are falling off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Minister Al-Mashat said the NWFE programme had mobilised $4 billion in concessional finance for clean energy and other priority sectors. She also pointed to the launch of Egypt's Integrated National Financing Framework (E-INFF) earlier this year, developed in cooperation with UNDP. These platforms show how governments, development partners, and the private sector can collaborate to close the financing gap, create quality jobs, and drive sustainable growth, Minister Al-Mashat said. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo and senior UNDP officials also participated in the sessions, which focused on mobilising climate finance, promoting investment-led development, and bridging global financing disparities. The FfD4 conference takes place in Sevilla, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, with a mandate from the UN General Assembly to support reform of the international financial architecture. It has gathered governments, international financial institutions, and multilateral agencies to explore new financing models amid rising pressure on the global development agenda. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
